Project Noah is a tool to explore and document wildlife and a platform to harness the power of citizen scientists everywhere.
Project Noah is a tool to explore and document wildlife and a platform to harness the power of citizen scientists everywhere.
Phyciodes tharos
Calling all lepidopterists! I think this butterfly is either a Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) or Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis); the former seems more likely than the latter. Anyone care to offer an expert opinion? Thank you!
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Lat: 38.75, Long: -77.08
Spotted on Jul 28, 2012
Submitted on Aug 9, 2012
6 Comments
Thanks for the comments and ID suggestions! Simple majority rules: It's a Pearl Crescent.
Pearl Crescents can be quite variable, but I think you have a Pearl. If it was a Silvery Checkerspot the hindwing would have some white-centered submarginal spots. Here is the side by side website I use to compare butterflies: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/fra... It is a handy reference from NABA (North American Butterfly Association)
See what mean with tricky!! Since we do not have an underside shot we have to focus on the upperside. If you look very carefully to the hindwing spots you might notice that in Chlosyne nycteis there is always a white spot as an inlet in the black spots #2 and more accentuated in #3 (from the middle). These white spots are missing in Phyciodes tharos and in the shot from geodialist. So it is the Pearl Crescent.
might be a Silvery Checkerspot. I have copy of Don & Lillian Stokes butterfly guide, and their photo looks similar to your butterfly.
I think it's a pearl crescent. The inner wing pattern is moreso a Pearl than a Silvery.
I am wondering how many of these ones were IDed corrected, as I would guess. Even with my" experience" there are quite tricky to ID, since they are all very variable with all these spots and markings. I am sure you will get an ID and I will also try later...